Knowing Prahalis didn't help the 20th-ranked Lady Tigers last night in Value City Arena. The 5-foot-7 senior played one of the most complete games of her career while leading the No. 18 Buckeyes to a 77-68 victory.

Prahalis checked in with a season-high 28 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. And, as Barrett mentioned, she did have help. Hill filled her stat line with 23 points, including making 12 of 12 free throws and a three-point dagger late in the game.

In the aftermath, Hill looked at the box score and echoed what Barrett had said about her teammate.

"It's not a surprise at all," Hill said. "She's a great player. You can't ask for more from a point guard. I mean, she's the smallest player on the court but has the biggest heart."

Prahalis focused on the win. The Tigers (3-3) were the best team that the Buckeyes (5-0) had seen this season and pushed them to the limit with a combination of size, speed and tenacity.

The Tigers trailed 52-50 with 8:24 left in the game when Prahalis made one of her six three-pointers. Adrienne Webb answered with a basket for LSU, but Prahalis trumped that with another three-pointer.

She followed with an assist to freshman Kalpana Beach. While the Tigers refused to go away, they never recovered.

Prahalis credited the outcome to "all of us, together.

"Each one of us stepped up a little bit," she said. "We started moving the ball better. We started to bring energy. It was a good team win. I'm happy with everyone. We have a lot to work on, but right now I'm real proud of everybody."

LSU did its best to rattle Ohio State with a trapping defense and an aggressive attack against the offensive glass. The Tigers had a 17-5 advantage in second-chance points.

They trailed 68-65 with 3:09 to play when Hill delivered her key three-pointer. She beat the shot clock with an attempt that hit the rim, bounced 5 feet in the air and dropped through the net.

Nothing his two stars did surprised Ohio State coach Jim Foster.

"I thought all along that people didn't quite understand and value our backcourt when they were talking about our season and what we were going to be," Foster said. "I think they lost sight of how good those kids are."

Hill had stayed on the perimeter in the first half. In the second, she attacked the basket and shot 10 free throws.

"I told her she can't live with the three-point shot," Foster said. " 'You can't live and die with that thing. You have the ability to get to the basket.' "

He thought that Prahalis played one of her best games "because of the timeliness of her baskets."

"She's doing an absolutely terrific job of accepting the job of being the leader," he said.

jmassie@dispatch.com

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